Ecommerce Store on Magento Platform Needs Security and Protection

Magento, an eBay product was earlier known as Varien. It is one of the most preferred eCommerce platforms and is being used by almost 30 percent of eCommerce websites. Magento combines the best features of MySQL database and Zend PHP. It offers amazing flexibility through the modular architecture. The scalability feature makes it fast loading and it has brilliant features that eCommerce developers appreciate.

Though Magento platform offers some brilliant features, it is equally true that repeatedly there have been news of bugs that can lead to serious security breach. Being built on open source code, the platform may have several vulnerability. Popularity of Magento has made it a favorite of hackers and attackers as well.

Earlier the attackers used ‘phishing’ to get breach the security of the eCommerce site. Since the web developers have become aware of the phishing attacks, the hackers now use malvertising as a way to attack the sites that seem secure.

In a latest update, it was revealed that attackers could misuse quite a few vulnerabilities in Magento platform. The leak eventually allows attackers to insert PHP codes on the web server. This flaw is known as remote code execution (RCE). It is inbuilt flaw in the core code of Magento platform. Though a patch for the RCE flaw has been released, yet, over 50 percent of the Magento sites have not updated their sites.

Via RCE flaw, not only the shoppers’ credentials but also the site owners’ privacy is at stake.

11 Ways to secure eCommerce Store on Magento Platform

Though the platform has security functions, they are not enough to discourage the cyber attacks. An eCommerce website needs to take care of their customers’ safety and privacy. Here are a few additional options that you must consider if you believe that your eCommerce store on Magento platform needs security and protection.

1. A Unique Admin Path

Change path of your admin page. It will help your core information stay safe. Instead of keeping your admin login at the default yoursite.com/store/admin make a unique login path such as yoursite.com/store/27AgJ47X

Access /app/etc/local.xml

Find “<![CDATA[admin]]>”

Change word [admin] to [27AgJ47X] or as you prefer

NOTE: Do not ever alter the “Admin Base URL” or its settings stored in admin section. If you alter the Admin Base URL, Magento will not let you access the admin panel.

2. Unique Login Details

With the Brute Force software, the hackers can guess 8 million different combinations of usernames and passwords. Can you beat that? You must have to beat them.

Keep a unique username and a super complex password.

Alter your password on regular intervals.

Do not use the same username and password elsewhere.

It is your duty to keep the attackers at bay and keep the data of your site and visitors safe.

Do not store your password in your password manager. The password manager services use the cloud based servers or software. If the attacker hacks your cloud, then your store may be at stake. After all it is on a third party space that you can never ever be a 100 percent sure of.

Risk of theft of the mobile devices i.e. laptop and tablets enhances the risk of vulnerability of the passwords stored in excel sheets as well.

If your eCommerce site can be hacked, your desktop or laptop can be hacked as well.

The best way to keep your passwords safe is to memorize them.

4. Two Step Authentication

Enable a two-step authentication extensions. It will ensure only trusted and registered devices will be able to access the backend of your Magento platform. The two-step authentication generates a random password every 30 seconds. The code is sent to a pre-registered device only. A complex username, a unique password and a code that is sent only to your phone make the window of breach is next to impossible.

5. Static IP Address

Enforce a restricted access to your static IP address. First, ensure that have a static IP and not a dynamic IP. The restriction can be enforced and it requires coding in .htaccess or alternatively, you can use an Apache directive of LocationMatch as mentioned hereunder:

<LocationMatch "admin">
Order Deny,Allow
Deny from All
Allow from ‘ENTER YOUR STATIC IP HERE WITHOUT THE QUOTES’
</LocationMatch>

Use the admin name to match your admin login page like “admin”, “27AgJ47X” or whatever you have chosen.

If you ever need to access your Magento backend, from a different IP address, you will have first update the LocationMatch directive. It is a bit of extra trouble, but is absolutely worth it.

6. Comply with Latest Version Updates of Magento

Enroll to receive updates about security patches and version updates from Magento. Do not wait to implement the patch or updates. As soon as a new update or patch is rolled out, implement it immediately. Also, update all the additional tools that you use with Magento platform.

7. Updated Anti-Virus Software

Backup and update must be a part of your security checksum. However, if you are lousy in updating your antivirus software, it may cost your ecommerce platform. Schedule your paid antivirus software to update itself every day.

8. HTTPS/SSL Mandatory for Login Pages

Use encryption to on all login pages in Magento with SSL certificate. Enable eCommerce security with trusted SSL certificate and use always-on SSL on every page.

9. Secure Your Email Access

To hack your site, if all the attacker needs to do is obtain your email id mentioned on your LinkedIn profile or hack into your email account to get access of your site, it should be not such a big deal for a processional attacker.

Just make a unique Username and password, similarly use a distinct and secure email id to access your Magento site! Make an email id knottier that is impossible to guess and NEVER use it elsewhere.

10. Use a Secure FTP

Many hackers decode the FTP access and hack the site. Use SFTP along with a Public Key Authentication for utmost secured FTP access.

11. Developers Access

When you need help from outside developers and have to hand over your access to them. Change your access passwords and FTP password. Again, change your access details as soon as the job is over. Do not handover the access to unknown developers. Use trusted organizations with credible background.

A bunch of other things to keep your eCommerce store secured can be taken care of as well. Do not forget to keep yourself in touch with the latest updates. If the need be, hire professional helps if your ecommerce store on Magento platform needs security and protection.

Gunjan Tripathi works with CheapSSLShop. He is passionate about technology, web security and the online industry. Working in online environment, Gunjan is well versed with digital marketing challenges and different targets being completed in aggressive deadlines along with client satisfaction.

Magento as eCommerce player would ever need to be safest in terms of its functional & financial moves. Provided the vulnerability of it to current web threats, the points displayed herein sound pretty accurate. Appreciate!